Catherine Bryant
Clinical Surgical Research Fellow

Catherine qualified from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2006 and subsequently underwent foundation training at the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals in Birmingham. She moved to London in 2008 to begin surgical training. Core training was completed in 2010. Catherine began working for Professor Norman Williams in October 2010, with the long-term goal of becoming an academic colorectal consultant in the London area.

Project: A multicentre assessment of the APPEAR technique in the prevention of permanent stoma formation for benign and malignant rectal disease

The APPEAR technique (Anterior Perineal Plane for Anterior Resection of Rectum) is a novel surgical technique has been developed by Professor Norman Williams to prevent the need for permanent stoma formation in those patients who otherwise would have needed a permanent ileostomy or colostomy. We have been performing this operation at the Royal London Hospital since 2003 and published the results of the pilot study in 2007. We are now in the process of launching the multicentre trial to disseminate the technique both nationally and internationally and gain conclusive data as the efficacy and outcomes of this new technique.